Bobcats to hold camp, play preseason game in Asheville

From staff reports

Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment announced Tuesday that the Charlotte Bobcats will return to UNC Asheville's Kimmel Arena for their training camps in 2013 and 2014 and also play an NBA preseason game in Asheville for the first time.

This year's training camp, which is less than two weeks away, begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1. A week later, the Bobcats will take on the Atlanta Hawks in preseason action on Oct. 8 at Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center. Tickets start at $15 and are available now at the U.S. Cellular Center and Time Warner Cable Arena box offices and online at bobcats.com or via Ticketmaster.

Prior to training camp, the team will hold Media Day on Monday, Sept. 30, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.

"We had great success with our training camp at UNC Asheville last year," said Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins. "As we anticipated, it was a perfect venue for us, and we are excited to have the opportunity to go back to Kimmel Arena this season and next season."

Kimmel Arena, which opened in November 2011, is home to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's and women's basketball teams. The arena is located in the Wilma M. Sherrill Center and has a capacity of more than 3,200 fans for basketball. The multipurpose facility has hosted more than 100,000 guests since its opening.

"We are delighted to once again welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to the campus of UNC Asheville for their training camp in the Wilma M. Sherrill Center," said UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet Cone. "We had a great experience hosting them last year and look forward to working with their new coach Steve Clifford and his staff in October.

"Our university has, once again, partnered with the city, county, sports commission, chamber of commerce, corporate partners and the many passionate basketball fans in our region to help position Western North Carolina as the premier showcase for all levels of basketball. In addition, we look forward to welcoming the team, coaches, support staff and fans to our campus and the Greater Asheville area for a week of great sport and enjoyment."

This will mark the second straight season the Bobcats have held training camp at UNC Asheville and the seventh time in the past nine years that they have done so away from Charlotte.

"The fans of Asheville could not have been more welcoming to us last year and we are pleased to be returning this season," said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. "We are also excited that we are not just holding our training camp but also playing a preseason game in Asheville for the first time."

<p>Bobcats Sports & Entertainment announced Tuesday that the Charlotte Bobcats will return to UNC Asheville's Kimmel Arena for their training camps in 2013 and 2014 and also play an NBA preseason game in Asheville for the first time.</p><p>This year's training camp, which is less than two weeks away, begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1. A week later, the Bobcats will take on the Atlanta Hawks in preseason action on Oct. 8 at Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center. Tickets start at $15 and are available now at the U.S. Cellular Center and Time Warner Cable Arena box offices and online at bobcats.com or via Ticketmaster. </p><p>Prior to training camp, the team will hold Media Day on Monday, Sept. 30, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.</p><p>"We had great success with our training camp at UNC Asheville last year," said Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins. "As we anticipated, it was a perfect venue for us, and we are excited to have the opportunity to go back to Kimmel Arena this season and next season."</p><p>Kimmel Arena, which opened in November 2011, is home to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's and women's basketball teams. The arena is located in the Wilma M. Sherrill Center and has a capacity of more than 3,200 fans for basketball. The multipurpose facility has hosted more than 100,000 guests since its opening. </p><p>"We are delighted to once again welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to the campus of UNC Asheville for their training camp in the Wilma M. Sherrill Center," said UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet Cone. "We had a great experience hosting them last year and look forward to working with their new coach Steve Clifford and his staff in October.</p><p>"Our university has, once again, partnered with the city, county, sports commission, chamber of commerce, corporate partners and the many passionate basketball fans in our region to help position Western North Carolina as the premier showcase for all levels of basketball. In addition, we look forward to welcoming the team, coaches, support staff and fans to our campus and the Greater Asheville area for a week of great sport and enjoyment."</p><p>This will mark the second straight season the Bobcats have held training camp at UNC Asheville and the seventh time in the past nine years that they have done so away from Charlotte. </p><p>"The fans of Asheville could not have been more welcoming to us last year and we are pleased to be returning this season," said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. "We are also excited that we are not just holding our training camp but also playing a preseason game in Asheville for the first time."</p>